Toy cannon.



No. 681,079. Patented Aug. 20, I901. R. L. SHORT.

TOY --GANNON.

(Application filed Feb. 19, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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TOY CANNON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,079, dated August 20, 1901.

Application filed February 19, 1901. Serial No. 47,926, (No model.)

To crZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. SHORT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clifton Park, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Cannons; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in toy cannons designed more particularly for creating sharp reports by the firing of light explosives, such as the heads of matches.

An object of the invention is to so construct the muzzle of the cannon that a match or the like may be properly adjusted therein and fired through the medium of the trigger at the rear end of the muzzle.

Improved details in the construction and arrangement of the several parts of the cannon will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter and the appended claim.

In the drawings forming part hereof an emloodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of illustration, and when referring to the same like letters of reference will designate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cannon embodying the improvements; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof, showing the exploding-lever or triggerin operative and inoperative positions, the latter being shown in dotted lines.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, A designates the carrying-wheels for the cannon, of any ordinary or approved construction, and B the cannon, pivotally secured to the axle O, connecting the wheels A.

D is the muzzle of the cannon, having a smooth bore throughout. This muzzle is open at its rear end and has oppositely-disposed ears (Z, through which a pivot-bolt E passes.

On the pivot-bolt and adapted to be elevated and lowered into the various positions shown in Fig. 2 is an elongated operating-lever or trigger F. The lever F at its outer end is turned up, as at f, to form a finger-hold, and at its inner lower edge has a projecting lug f, adapted in elevated position to occupy a position parallel with and to abut against the upper rear portion of the cannon-bore.

It will thus be seen that in operation the trigger or firing-lever will be elevated and a match inserted head first into the muzzle until the head thereof abuts against the rounded portion of said lever, when the lever will be operated by the hand or pressed by the foot so as to be thrown downwardly with a quick sharp blow,which by reason of the projection at the inner end thereof contacting with the head of the match will explode the same and create the desired report. The arrangement of the several parts is such as to obviate all danger from flying particles of the matchhead.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a toy match-cannon, the combination with suitable supporting means, a muzzle thereon open at its rear end, and a firing-lever pivoted in the open end of the muzzle comprising an elongated operating portion, a rounded or enlarged portion projecting therefrom adapted to work in said open end of the muzzle to limit the insertion of a match thereinto, and a lug adjacent said enlarged portion adapted when the lever is lowered to extend into the muzzle and operate in opposition to a portion of the upper surface of the bore thereof, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT L. SHORT.

Witnesses:

MARION SINCLAIR, LOTTIE NEWBURN. 

